Multi-Host Storage Controller for Real-Time Command Scheduling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multi-host storage systems often fail to process urgent or real-time commands in a timely manner due to the complexity of managing multiple hosts accessing a single storage medium.

Innovation Solution

A storage device with a nonvolatile memory and a storage controller that includes a real-time manager to control multiple physical functions, allowing it to process real-time commands by obtaining and managing real-time information, selecting appropriate functions, and distributing resources based on this information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single storage medium supports multiple hosts, then storage system capacity and resource utilization are improved, but real-time command processing capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-host supportVSAvoidreal-time command processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The storage controller is divided into multiple physical functions, with each physical function independently managing real-time commands from specific hosts. This segmentation allows parallel processing of real-time commands from different hosts without interference, resolving the contradiction between multi-host support and real-time processing capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A real-time manager is introduced as an intermediary component that receives real-time commands from hosts, determines the corresponding physical function based on host identification information, and directs commands to the appropriate physical function. This intermediary mechanism enables efficient routing and processing of real-time commands while maintaining multi-host support

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple physical functions share a single storage medium, then resource utilization is improved, but command processing priority and responsiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidcommand processing guarantee

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Each physical function is configured with dynamic parameters including host identification information, real-time command processing priorities, and performance thresholds. The real-time manager dynamically selects and activates the appropriate physical function based on the host ID and command characteristics, enabling flexible resource allocation that guarantees real-time processing while maintaining high resource utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12572308B2Storage device supporting real-time processing and method of operating the same

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A storage device includes a nonvolatile memory device and a storage controller configured to control the nonvolatile memory device under control of a plurality of hosts. The storage controller includes a plurality of physical functions, respectively corresponding to the plurality of hosts, and a real-time manager configured to control the plurality of physical functions based on real-time information of a real-time command when the real-time command is issued from at least one host among the plurality of hosts.